Louisiana Senator Sought Repeal of Background Check Act
The legislation requires fingerprinting for health care applicants, causing hiring challenges across the state.
Updated on Oct. 13, 2026 in Nursing Jobs
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Senator Patrick McMath has requested the repeal of Act 802, a law requiring new criminal background checks for health care workers. The mandate has sparked concerns among providers regarding hiring difficulties.
Why it matters
Health care facilities are struggling to recruit staff due to limited access to fingerprinting services, particularly in rural areas. The law intends to protect vulnerable patients through stricter screening, but providers fear the process will lead to widespread non-compliance.
Approximately 25% of initial background checks produce a potential match requiring mandatory fingerprinting. These fingerprints must be processed through the Louisiana Applicant Processing System to verify identities against FBI records.
The players
Patrick McMath
Patrick McMath is a Louisiana Senator who has requested the repeal of the newly implemented Act 802.
Bruce Greenstein
Bruce Greenstein is the Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health who addressed feedback from health care providers regarding the new hiring protocols.
Louisiana State Police
The Louisiana State Police operate the Louisiana Applicant Processing System used to verify the criminal histories of health care workers.
The details
Act 802, which took effect October 1, mandates fingerprinting for health care worker applicants who have potential arrest record matches. The Louisiana State Police have integrated providers into the state's applicant processing system to manage these checks, but the system has created logistical hurdles for rural employers.
Timeline
Act 802 passed during the legislative session in Spring 2026.
Criminal background check requirements took effect on October 1, 2026.
The Department of Health issued implementation guidance to providers during the week of October 6, 2026.
Secretary Bruce Greenstein acknowledged provider concerns regarding the law on October 13, 2026.
Market Landscape
The integration of health care providers into the Louisiana Applicant Processing System reflects a broader trend of centralizing state-level employment screening. This shift forces facilities to adjust their hiring timelines to accommodate mandatory federal criminal history checks.
Health care facilities in Louisiana may face staffing shortages or delays in onboarding new employees due to these fingerprinting requirements. Residents seeking employment in the health care sector should prepare for additional identity verification steps as part of the hiring process.
The takeaway
The move by Senator McMath highlights the tension between patient safety regulations and the operational realities of staffing rural health facilities. Providers must carefully navigate state compliance requirements to avoid potential gaps in their workforce coverage.
Further reading
Find more updates on the state's medical workforce environment in our Nursing Jobs section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Big Country News.
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